VOSD Podcast: What a City-Run Power Agency Would Look Like

December 7 – Voice of San Diego – Adriana Heldiz – San Diego is close to entering the power business.

Back in October, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced the city’s plans to form its own electric utility to provide green power.

The city believes it can provide cleaner and cheaper electricity than the region’s long-time energy monopoly, San Diego Gas & Electric. If the City Council approves the mayor’s proposal, San Diego would become a community choice aggregator, or CCA. In other words, the city will have its own government-run power agency.

And like most agencies, the city will have to figure out who will run it. That would include a board, likely made up of elected officials and then run by staff, who would lean on outside consultants.

On this week’s podcast, hosts Sara Libby and Scott Lewis are joined by Voice of San Diego reporter Ry Rivard, who explains how San Diego’s new government-run power agency will work.

Meanwhile, SDG&E, which would still provide the power lines to run the city’s electricity, is trying to find a way to reduce its role in the power business.